Tape-serivng device



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m N m T T A 1927- T. H. KRUEGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AFTORNEYS l/vl k/vrol i 1,638,815 1927' T. H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVING DEVICEFiled Sept. 6. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I M Wm v v Patented 9, 1927.

THEODORE H. KRUEGER,- NEW YORK, N. Y.

TAPE-SERVING DEVICE.

Application and September e, um.- serau no. 'GGLIBSREISSUED Thisinvention relates to devices for.

serving sealing tape. It.is particularly concerned with mechanism fordelivering pieces of gummed paper tape in a moistened condition readyfor application to parcels,

s1sts in providing a one-piece sheet metal pers and the like.

0 invention contemplates a machine comprising a table member in which ismounted a guide for the tape, a mechanism for appl ing moisture to thetape as it is fed out of t e machine, a mechanism mounted ,to ride onthe guide for feeding the tape through the guide and through the mois-.tener, and mechanism for severing the tape,

which mechanism is interposed between the moistener and the guide. p

One featureof the present invention con.- sists in providing aconstruction whereby the table member is mounted at a convenient heightfrom the base of the machine, so that a parcel may be held under thetape as it issues from the machine and be directly applied to thepackage by merely forcing the moistened surface into contact with thepackage. face of the tape is thus made unnecessary.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing the feedingmechanism and the severing mechanism with operating members or fingerpieces substantially in alignment with each other so that the operator,by a natural, continuous motion of the hand toward himself, is enabledto operate the wra feeder and the cutter, these parts being so arranged,that at the end of the feed stroke the hand passes naturally oil thefinger.

piece of the feeder to the finger piece of thecutter.

The feeding and the severing mechanisms 40 are provided with springs,whereby, after each operation, they are automatically re turned to theirinitial positions without further action on the part of the operator.The entire feeding operation is accomplished by means of the feeder, sothat the tape need not be pulled manually out of the machine, as incertain constructions of the prior artin which the feeding mechanismserves only to initiate the feed, requiring the desired lengthlof tapeto be pulled out manually. During the feed stroke, the tape isautomatically passed through the moistener and is thus caused to leavethe machine in a thoroughly moistened condi- Handling of the moistenedsur tion. In this manner, the operator is enabled to feed out the tape,to moisten it and sever any desired length of it without having to touchthe tape during the process.

A further fegture of the invention conguide for the tape, which guideserves simultaneously as a track or slide for the tape-feedingmechanism. The invention, moreover, provides additional guide meanswhereby the tape is guided from the severing niechanism into and throu hthe moistenin mechanism so that buc ing of the tape 18 absolutelyprevented throughout its entire path in the machine.

The invention provides further a moistening mechanism inv which aself-adjusting pressure member is caused to hold the tape in engagementwith the moistening member, so that the tape engages the moisteningmember with substantially uniform pressure irrespective of variations inthe position of the .moistening member. The last-named member ispreferably in the form ,of a brush extending upwardly from a reservoir,as disclosed and claimed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,567,655. I

A further feature of the invention consists in the construction of thecarriage whereby the same is normally held out of engagement'with thetape and is caused to engage the tape for feeding the same throu h theguide only when its handle is held epressed. This permits the operatorto move the carriage into any desired position before beginning thefeeding stroke, thus enabling him to make only a portion of the feedstroke or several full feed strokes beforeoperating the severingmechanism, so that he may obtain any desired length. of. tape. 95

The above and further features of the invention which will appear fullyhereinafter,

will now be described in connection with a preferred form of embodimentthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which 7Figure 1 is a vertlcal sectional view of one form of embodiment of theinvention; r Eigpre 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1; K Figure 3 is anenlarged sectional view of part of the machine;

Figure 4 is afront elevation of the feeding mechanism; and

Figure is a view illustrating the manner ported in the pedestal.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in each of theseveral views.

The machine as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a standard orframe A, a tape-receiving member B, a tape-guiding means C, atape-advancing means D, a tapesevering mechanism E and a tape-moisteningmeans F.

The frame A is preferably constructed of cast metal and consists of anelongated base or pedestal 9, an upright or standard 9*, provided at theforward end of thepedestal, and a table member 9*, which member is inthe form of a cantilever extension from the upper end of the standardand extends parallel to the pedestal. The entire frame is shaped sothatit may be cast in one piece, as shown in the drawing, but of courseit may be formed of several parts bolted together, if desired. Thepedestal is providedwith foot members 105 of soft rubber or similarmaterial, so that the machine may be placed on a polished surface, suchas that of a store counter, without danger of scratching or otherwisemarring the same.

The rearward end of the pedestal is provided with a recess 10 (Figure 5)for receiving the tray 16, which, in the present form of embodiment,constitutes the tape-receiving means B. The tray is supported in therecess by means of cross members 106 and 107 east integral with thepedestal, and is retained in this position by means of a tongue 11 whichis secured to the bottom of the tray and which, when the tray is inplace, extends under the shoulder 108 of the pedestal. By merely tiltingits rearward end upward, the tray may readily be detached from thepedestal when a new roll of tape is to be inserted, but accidentaldisplacement. of the tray, as bypull on the tape, is effectivelyprevented.

. It may here be noted that as the roll is unwound by pull on the tape24, the roll is caused to engage both the end wall 16 and the bottomwall 17 of the tray. Two points of contact, 21 and 22, are thus providedbetween the roll and the tray with the result that frictional resistanceis caused to retard the unwinding of the roll. held taut and the roll isprevented from loosening its outer layers by continuing its rotationafter the pull on the tape has ceased. A sloping bottom 17 may beprovided to hold the tape continually in engagement with wall 16.

From roll 20 the tape 24 passes into the guiding means C, which means ismounted on the table member 9 of the casting. The guiding means, in thepreferable form of construction, consists of a single piece of sheetmaterial 26 provided with flanges 100,

cantilever portion 9 of the frame.

The tape is thus (Figure 4) which flanges are folded over toward eachother so as to constitute, together with the center portion 102 of thestrip, a guideway for the tape.

A slot 33 is provided along the middle of the center portion 102, so asto expose the lower surface of the tape in the guideway, and theadjacent edges of the folded over flanges are separated fromeach otherby a distance substantially equal to the, width of the slot, so as toexpose the upper surface of the tape. The tape, therefore, as it passesthrough the guide, is closely confined along its edges and thusstraightened out, but is left exposed on top and bottom along its centerline for the purpose of being engaged by the tape-advancing means D, ashereinafter described.

At the entrance end of the guide, the flanges are provided with upturnedlips 27 to enable the tape to be readily introduced. The center portion102 of the guide is extended beyond lips 27 to form an apron.25, whichapron serves not only to form a bearing surface for the tape enteringthe guide, as readily apparent from Figure 1, but also as a clamp forsecuring the entrance end of the guide to the table member, for whichpurpose the apron is bent into a shape such as to embrace a cross-piece101 provided in tlge T e other end of the guide is secured to theforward end of the table member by means of screws 109, as hereinafterdescribed.

The means D for advancing the tape through the guide C consists in thepreferred form of embodiment of a slider 29 provided with a pivotedfinger-piece 36. The slider consists of a single piece of sheet material110 provided with pairs of flanges 111 and 112 folded over the edges ofguide 26, so as,

to permit of free sliding movement between the slider and the guide.

It will thus be seen, that in accordance with this invention, the meansconstituting the guide for the tape serves also as the bear ing surfaceor slide for the tape-advancing device. The finger piece 36 is pivotedto the slider by means of a pin 113 which passes through upwardlyextending lugs 114 integral with the slider and through depend ing lugs115 integral with the finger-piece. A spring 35'coiled about pin 113serves to hold the finger-piece normally in such position that a pair oflugs 116 integral with the finger-piece are in engagement with thepreviously mentioned flanges 111 and 112 of the slide. In this positionthe slider is free to be moved backward and forward on the slide withoutcausing movement of the tape in the slide.

For-the purpose of causing the slider to engage the tape,thefinger-piece 36 is provided at its center with an extension 117, whichextension is curved backwardly under the finger-piece to provide a jawmember 31, which jaw isadapted to cooperate with a raised portion in theslider to constitute a mechanism for clamping the tape. A slightpressure on the finger-piece 36 is thus suflicient to cause the tape tobe clamped between jaws 30 and 31 and to be moved with the slider. Assoon as the pressure on the finger-piece is relieved, the jaw member 31is tilted by means of spring 35 out of engagement with the tape, so thatfurther movement of the slider is not transmitted to the tape.

It will thus be understood that with the finger-piece 36 depressed,forward movement of the slider will advance the tape through the guideand through the severing and moistening means hereinafter described. Re-

turn movement of the slider is made automatic by means of a biasingmechanism such as the spring 40, one end of which is anchored in thecasting by means of a screw 42, and the other end of which is secured toa depending lug 120 of slider 29. The intermediate portion of the springpasses over a grooved roller 41 mounted to rotate freely in a bracket118 fixed to thecross bar 101 of j the casting by means of a screw 119.-

At the end of a forward or feeding stroke of the slider, the operatormerely releases the finger-piece 36 so that jaw member 31 is tilted outof engagement with the tape and the slider is returned to its originalposition by the tension of spring 40. The backward movement of theslider is terminated by the engagement of the lug 120 with a pin 45,which pin may be inserted into any one of a number of holes46 providedin the upper edge of the casting. The length of tape fed by a singleoperation of the advancing means may thus be automatically controlled.

The tape which is fed out of guide 26 is caused to enter the severingmechanism E. Thismechanism consists of a stationary blade 47 secured tothe casting by screws 109,

and a movable blade 49 which is pivoted by means of a pin 51 on a lug 47integral with the lower blade 47. A lug 52 on the movable blade isarranged to cooperate with a notch 52' of the blade to limit the arc ofmovement of blade 49. A spring .121 -on pin 51 serves for the pur ose ofholding the shear members 49 and 4 in close engagement at their pivotalends. A second spring 121* is mounted to engage the lug 52 at its outerend for the purpose of forcing the remote end of the movable blade intoengagement with the stationary one. In this action spring 51 is assistedby a spring 54 fastened to the free end of blade 49 and to a lug 122 ofthe casting. The combined action of springs 51, 121 and 54 serves tokeep the shear blades in firm engagement, so that the tape will besheared cleanly when the upper blade is depressed. Spring 51 serves forthe water into the compartment.

further purpose of biasing the upper blade to an open position so thatthe tape is free tov pass beneath the blade into the moistening means F.A flange 49" is provided on the upper ed e of the movable blade forbeing engaged by the operators finger when the shear is to be actuated.

A stripper 123 is provided to hold the further purpose of anchoring theforward end of the guide. Screws 109 serve to hold the stripper inplace.

From the severing device E, the tape passes into the moistener F, whichmoistener, in the present form of embodiment, consists of a brush 55,the butt end of which is submerged in water provided in a tank 57 formedin the upper end of the upright member 9 of the casting. Rapidevaporation of the water may be prevented by providing a film of oil, asindicated at 58. pivoted lid 60 provided in the forward end of the tankserves to permit of the introduction of j .The position of the butt endof the brush is fixed by a recess 125 provided in the bottom of thetank, and the outer ends of the bristles are confined between the edgeof lid 60 and the edge of a sheet metal cover 61 secured on the top ofthe tank by means of screws 109 and 42. The forward end 61 of the coveris bentupwardly so as to cause the tape issuing from guide 26 to passbetween the ends of'the bristles 55 and a weighted flap piece 56 whichis freely rotatable about pivots 56 provided in casting A.

The heirs of the brush, by capillary attraction, cause moisture to riseto the'tip of the brush so that the bristles are continuously kept in amoistened condition; The flap piece 56 is so constructed that thedownward pressure occasioned by its own weight is suflicient to forcethe entire gummed surface of the tape. into intimate contact with thehairs of the brushT The pressure which is thus created between the tapeand the resilient 'ends of the bristles causes the moisture of thebristles to be applied evenly over the entire gummed surface of the tapeas the same is passed over the brush so that no art of the gummedsurface remains un ill) moistened. By virtue of the resiliency of thebristles the moisture is applied evenly and there is no excessive andundesirable wetting of the tape ir some places and no insuflicientmoistening at other places. The'free pivotal mounting of the member 56serves to hold the surface of the tape in proper engagement with thebrush and irrespective of variations in the position of this end, as maybe occasioned, for example, by slight difthe brush.

The brush may be readily removed from the tank 57, as for purposes ofcleansing, by merely pulling it out by the bristles, and it maybereturned into its proper place by merely dropping it, butt end first,into the tank. A projection 63 is provided in the tank for guiding itinto the recess 125.

The operation of the machine will now be readily understood.

To obtain a piece of moistened tape, the operator merely laces hisfingers on the member 36 and, olding this member depressed so that thetape is clamped between jaws 31 and 30, pulls the feed carriage towardshimself, until its motion is arrested by the engagement of lug 160 ofthe slider with the rear edge of plate 47. During this operation, theend of the tape, which at the time of commencement of the feed strokewas in guide C, is advanced through the moistener and projectedoutwardly therefrom with its moistened surface undermost' ready forapplication to the package or parcel for which it-isintended. At thetime when the feed motion of the carriage is arrested. the finger member36 of the carriage is a short distance from the finger member49 of thesevering mechanism. When, therefore, the carriage is brought to a stop,the operator releases the same by continuing the motion of his hand,thus drawing his fingers off the member 36 and placing them upon thefinger portion 49 of the severing mechanism E. His hand is thusautomatically placed into position for operating this mechanism. This,

operation is efl'ected by simply depressing the shear blade. The severedpiece of tape, equal in length to the distance of movement of the feedcarriage, extends outwardly from the forward end of the machine, asalready mentioned, and is retained in this position by virtue of theengagement of the pressure bar 56 with the brush 55.

The above-described entire feeding and severing operations are carriedout by one hand of the operator, ordinarily the right hand. In the otherhand the operator will usually hold the parcel or package to which thetape is to be applied. As the tape issues from the moistener, he willhold the parcel below the mouth of the moistening mechanism, so that thetape, as it issues from the machine, extends over that portion of thesurface of the parcel to which i. is to be applied. VVhen the right handhas completed the feedingand moistening movements, it is in position topress the moistened surface of the tape into contact with the parcel, sothat handling of the moistened side of the tape is entirely unnecessary.

If, for any reason, it is impracticable to hold the parcel in front ofthe machine, the operator will perform the feeding and sever:

ing operations as above, but thereupon use his right hand to take thetape out of the surface is entirely avoided.

Because of the correlation between the various parts of the machine,either of the above-described manners of operation may be effected by asimple and substantially continuous movement of the hand.

The length of the piece of tape fed out ofv the machine may becontrolled by the operator, at will, by completing only a partial feedstroke or making several full feed strokes before releasing the feederand operating the severing mechanism. In the usual case, however, itwill be desired to withdraw the same amount of tape from the machine ateach operation. This amount may be regulated by means of the stop pinwhich may be placed into any one of the openings 46, ashereinbeforeexplained.

When a new roll of tape is .to'be placed into the machine, the tray 16is removed from the pedestal, as hereinbefore explained, the new rollbeing placed into the tray in such position that upon unwinding it willbe urged against the back wall, 16 of the tray, as hereinbeforedescribed. The loose end 24 of the roll is then inserted into the guide,whereupon the machine may be operated in the usual manner.

When the tape is provided with print-ed or advertising matter on its"ungummed surface, the table member v,is preferably provided with anindex device, which will indicate to the operator how far to insert thetape in order that each piece of tape fed out of the machine will havethe printed matter thereon in the desired location. The use of such anindex member is rendered possible in the present construction, becausethe guide C is on top of the table and the upper surface of the tape inthe guide is exposed to View, as hereinbefore explained.

The machine, moreover, may be provided with adog for preventing backwardmovement of the paper tape in case an operator, not fully acquaintedwith the proper operation of the machine, should hold the fingerpiece.36 depressed during a backward move ment of the slider.

' Although I have herein shown and de-- moisture to tape, including ahrnsh from the spirit and scope of the invention, it being my intentionto claim the same as broadly as the state of the prior art will permit.7

I claim: p

1. In combination, a device for applying moisture to tape, includingcapillary moisture feeding means and self-adjusting meansfor holding thetape in contact with th moistening surface of said moisture feedingmeans. I L

2. In combination, a device for applying and a pivoted weighted memberresting freely on said brush for forcing the ta e into contact with themoistening sur ace of said brush. V

3. In combination, a device forapplying moisture to tape, includin aliquid supplier, means for conveying the liquid b capillary" action fromsaid supplier to sai tape, and

holding said tape in contact with said liquid a pivotally mountedweighted member for conveying means.

4. In a tape moistening mechanism, a

brush, means for applying moisture to said brush, and pivoted gravityoperated meansresting freely on said brush for holding the surface ofthe tape with uniform pressure in contact with the bristles of thebrush.' 5. In *Sombination, a device for applying moisture to tape, saiddevice comprising 1.

upwardly for passing the tape between the pressure member and the brush.

8. In a tape serving device, including means to render one surface ofsaid tape adhesive, a guide for tape comprising an integral strip ofsheet. metal having a longitudina'l slot therein and provided withturned-over flanges for formin for thetape, and a tape-advancing membermounted to slide on said guide.

9. In a tape serving device, a guide for tape comprising an integralstri of sheet metal having a longitudinal slot tlierein and providedwith turned-over flanges for formmg a channel for the tape, atape-advancin member mounted to ride on said guide, sai member beingprovided with flanges for em: bracing the outer edges of said guide, andmeans to moisten the tape as it issues from said guide. I

10. In a tape serving device, a guide for the tape, means for moisteningsaid tape, means embracing said guide and mounted to slide thereon, saidmeans comprising members adapted to clamp between them the upper andlower surfaces of the tape, and means for moving said members intononengaging position.

11. Ina tape serving device, a guide for the tape, means for severingthe tape advanced from said guide and means for moistemng said advancedtape, said guide being means constituting a reservoir and abrushiilformed of sheet metal and constructed to en- ;close the edges ofthe tape but leaving the 1 for conducting liquid upwardl out of saidreservoir, and a freely pivote engaging the upper surface of tape passedover the brush soas to cause the lower surreservoir a brush forconducting liquid out wardly from said reservoir, means in saidreservoir for receiving the butt end of the brush, means forsupportingthe upper end of the brush so that the axis of the brush isslightly inclined to the vertical, a pressuremember mounted to engagetape pased over the" upper endoff'the brush with' substantially uniformpressure irrespective of variations in position of the brush, and meansfor ding the tape between the pressure memer and the brush.

7. In" combination, means constituting a reservoir a brush forconducting liquid outwardly from said reservoir, means in said reservoirfor receiving the butt end of the brush so that the axis of the brush isslightly inclined to the vertical, a pressure member mounted to en getape assed over the upper end of t e brush wlth substantially uniformpressure irrespective of variations member for "tape in the gul e.

.',central portion thereof exposed, a tape adlvancing member riding onthe edges of said grids, and means associated with said memr for engaglnthe exposed surface of the 12. In a. tape servin machine including p u.;means-formoistening t e tape, means con- 6. In combination, means'constitutmg a z-fstitutmg' a table, 'a guide for tap at one end, asupporting member provided in said table for supporting said. extensionto fasten said guidein said table, and means for feeding the tape fromsaid guide,

13. In combination, a guide for tape, .said guide bein comprised of asingle strip of sheet meta having turned-over flan es for forming achannel for the tape an being provided with a longitudinal mg thesurface of the ta means for advanc' tape through sai guide, said meanscomprising a member of sheet metal havin flan for engaging the outeredges of sai gui e so as to be free to ride thereon, tapeenga meansassociated with said member, an means for moistening the tapeadvanoedfrom said guide.

1a. In combination, a guide for tape, said a channel 12f) slot forexposguide being comprised of a single strip of sheet metal havingturned-over flanges for forming a channel for the ta e and beingprovided with a longitudinal s ot for exposing the surface of the tape,means for advanc'ing tape through said guide, said means comprising amember of sheet metal having flanges for engaging the outer edges ofsaid guide so as to be free to ride thereon, and tape-engaging meansassociated with said member, said means comprising a raised portion insaid member for engaging one surface of the tape, and a jaw forcooperating with said raised portion and for engaging the'oppositesurface of the tape, means for ivotally mounting said jaw on said memerresilient means for normally holdin said jaw in non-engaging position,an means for moistening the tape advanced from said guide.

15.'In. a tape-serving means, a pair of clampin devices pivotallyassociated with each ot er, one of said devices having a raised portlonfor normally engaging one surface of the tape, the other ofsaid deviceshavin a jaw portion for at times cooperating with said raised portion toengage t e other surface of the tape and clamp the tape between them,resilient means for normally holding said jaw member in nonengagingposition, a finger-piece integral with said jaw member for at timesoperating said jaw member to engaging position, an

means for moistening the served tape as it emerges from said guide.

16. In a tape-serving dev1ce, a frame comprising a pedestal,tape-receiving means on said pedestal, an upright \provided at theforward end of said pedestal having a; table in the form of a cantileverextension from said upright, a guide for tape mounted in .:-.id tableportion of the' frame, a tapeudvancin means mounted to reciprocate onsaid gui e, a tape moistening mechanism mounted on the forward end ofthe guide, said upright comprising means forming a reservoir for saidmoistening mechanism,

. and a tape serving device interposed between aid guide and saidmoistening device.

17. In a tape serving device, hand-operated means for feeding the tapetoward the perator, means for rendering'the tape adhesive, hand-operatedmeans for severing the fed tape, said feeding and severin means being inalignment so that the ban of the operator will pass in a natural con.-tinuous substantially strai ht line horizontal motion from the saidceding means to the said severing means.

18. In a gummed strip serving device including a guide formed from asingle piece of sheet metal, adapted to receive and guide a paper stripthrough its interior and a paper grasping and advancing device over itsexterior, means for supplying said paper strip from a roll without theuse of an arbor which comprises a tray having smooth sides and aninclined bottom wall, said bottom wall and one side adapted byfrictional contact to retard the unwinding of the roll for the purposeof preventing the unwinding of more than the quantity of paper stripserved,

and means to moisten the withdrawn strip.

tion of the width of a paper strip to prevent its curlingor buckling,the exterior of said guide adapted to act as a track for a stripgripping and advancing means, and means to render said strip adhesive asit issues trom said guide.

21. In a tape-dispensing device, a combincd guide for paper strip and astrip ad vancing means comprising a single piece of sheet metal formedinto a fiat tube having a slot therethrough to permit the stripadvancing means to engage the paper strips, means to move the stripthrough said guide, and means to render the strip which issues from saidguide adhesive. 7

22. In a paper strip advancing means including a paper strip guide and apaper strip gripper movable along said guide and having a stationary jawand a manually movable jaw of cantilever construction, and means tomoisten the strip as it is advanced.

23. In a paper strip advancing means in: cluding a paper strip guide anda paper strip gripper movable along said guide and having a, lower jawsupported in a vertical plane, but movable in a horizontal plane, and anupper jaw hingedly attached to said lower jaw, said upper jaw providedwith a finger plece manually operable to bring the two jaws together andto move them in a horizontal plane, and means to moisten the strip as itis advanced.

24. In a paper strip advancing means including a paper strip guide and apaper strip gripper movable along said guide and having a sliding lower'aw supporting a hinged upper jaw provided with a finger piece toclosethe jaws and to slide the strip advancing means over any portion ofa stri guide, and means to moisten the strip as it is advanced.

25. In combination in a tape dispensing device, hand-operated paperstrip advancing means, hand-operated cutting means, and moistening meansarranged in substantially a straight line and adapted to be 0perated bya continuous straight line horizontal movement ofnthe operators hand,said cutting means and advancing means also adapted to workindependently.

26. In a tape serving device a'tape guide, hand-operated means to feedthe tape therethru, a hand-operated tape cutter, including ahand-actuated'movable vertical'blade, a stationary horizontal blade andspring means urging the cutting edges of the vertical blade horizontallytoward the cutting edge of the horizontal blade, spring means urging thecutting edge of the vertical blade vertically away from the horizontalblade, and means beyond the cutter to moisten the advanced strip. L

' 27. In a tape serving device a tape guide,

hand-operated means to feed the tape'therethru, a hand-operated tapecutter, including a stationary blade parallel to the plane of the paperstrip as it emerges from said guide and a movable blade acting in aplane substantially at right angles to the paper strip, spring means tohold said movable blade held in contact with the said stationary bladeduringthe cutting stroke, spring means to hold said movable blade inraised position but manually depressible to cut the paper strip, andmeans beyond the cutter to moisten the advanced strip.

28. In a dispensing device for gummed paper strip, a tray adapted tohold a roll of gummed paper strip, a guide, through which the strippasses, a strip grasping device embracing said guide and slidable alongthe outside thereof to grasp and to advance said strip, a cutter and amoistener to cut and to moisten said strip as it emerges from saidguide,said strip grasping device and cutter being arranged in a straightline to facilitate the operation of the machine.

29. In a dispensing device for gummed paper strip, a tray, a guide, astrip grasping device, a cutter and a moistener, said tray of relativelygreater length and breadth than a roll of paper strip, said tray bottominclined to cause the roll contained therein to have always two pointsof frictional contact with the tray walls as it unrolls, said guidehaving an internal passage to receive and guide the paper strip from the.said tray, the outsidesurface of said guide forming ways for the stripgrasping device, saidcutter positioned ,across the said guide andadapted to cut off any section advanced by' i the said strip graspingmeans, said moistener provided with a pressure means, a capillary liquidconveying means and multiplex contact means, adapted to moisten theguinrn-ed side of the paper strip and to act as a continuation of theguide.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature to this specification.THEODORE H. KRUEGER.

